Romance in the Garden, French-Country Style

French-country gardens blend the elements of formal design with informal, almost cottage-style planting beds. "You have clipped hedges, and you also have more natural plantings that look a little wild," says garden designer Shellene Mueller. "It's a plant-driven style."

Here, parterre and topiaries create the formal "bones" of this French-style garden, while unclipped flowering trees, vines and perennials lend a romantic feel.

Circular beds with romantic flowers and sculpted tree forms flank a water fountain and stone surfacing in this front yard. "It's easy to incorporate [elements of French-country gardens] into your own design style," says Cynthia Dodd, president of Plantscapes.

In French-country design, perennial borders are carefully planned to appear natural and informal. "There's intention in the beginning, but once they've grown in, it looks like a wildflower garden," says garden designer Cynthia Dodd, "as if the plants were just thrown into the bed."

In this design by Shellene Mueller, wrought-iron garden accents, loose mounds of flowers and a low stone wall frame the entrance to a serene patio garden. A stone sculpture framed in an iron arbor serves as the focal point.